Ferric Pyrophosphate in Rice Fortification
Iron deficiency is common among people living in third-world countries. This is a huge concern addressed by food industries and governments. Iron deficiency is more common among women of reproductive age.
Rice is a staple food especially in south Asian countries so fortification of rice with iron is recommended by organizations like WHO. Rice is also 2nd commonly consumed cereal grain in the world. This is a public health strategy adopted by governments to improve iron status in their population. However, Ferric Pyrophosphate has been recommended as the choice of iron source in the rice fortification process.
Ferric Pyrophosphate for fortification of rice?
Ferric Pyrophosphate is an iron replacement so it is used to fortify staple food like rice to improve iron levels among the population. Ferric Pyrophosphate powder is nearly white so it is recommended as it doesn’t affect the colour of fortified kernels therefore consumers do not complain about the colour and accept without hesitation. The bioavailability of Ferric Pyrophosphate is not as high as Ferrous Sulphate. The total iron that can be added to the fortified kernels is relatively low. To increase the bioavailability to some extent, a micronized form of Ferric Pyrophosphate is used. In human absorption studies, the addition of enhancing compounds such as citric acid/trisodium citrate mixtures has shown an increase in iron absorption from ferric pyrophosphate (WHO)
Fortification of rice to improve other deficiencies
With iron deficiency, vitamin A deficiency is also common so fortification of rice with vitamin A nutrition is also used to improve both the iron and vitamin A levels.
To improve the folate nutritional status of people, fortification of rice with folic acid is adopted as a public health strategy.
WHO Guideline for fortification of rice
There are multiple studies, where Ferric Pyrophosphate is used to fortify rice. The amount of iron added to fortify rice also varied widely: from 0.2 mg to 112.8 mg elemental iron per 100 g rice.
Countries where rice fortification is widely practiced
Brazil, Burundi, China, India, Indonesia, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, USA.
Rice fortification in the Indian context
Anemia has always been a big concern in India. Therefore, the Indian government has recently decided to make fortification of rice mandatory in the next 3 years. The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) is working on a proposal to make rice fortification mandatory in the next three years. The estimated cost every fiscal year will be Rs 2500 crore.
Why staple food is preferred for fortification?
The staple food is consumed regularly so to improve certain vitamin or mineral levels, fortification of these foods is preferred. It’s a good strategy adopted by governments. The fortification process must be closely monitored for optimum results. The preparation process varies depending on the type of food, nutrients, and technology.
We frequently find certain fortified foods in markets like fortified milk, yogurt, salt, etc.
Conclusion:
Rice fortification with vitamins and minerals can help to fill the nutritional deficiency gap. With properly implemented planning and techniques, we can make it a great success. There must be further research & development in this area. People living in the rural area of third world countries and African regions cannot afford costly nutritional supplements so rice fortification can become a good replacement.
West Bengal Chemical Industries Limited is a leading manufacturer of Ferric Pyrophosphate as active pharmaceutical ingredients in India and exports to other countries.
